Rosa Lambert — page 246: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee ee ee et me a tm ee a ROSA LAMBERT. ae are. Indeed, the height of Highgate Archway is, as already stated, a hundred and twenty feet; and it must he a strong head which does not experience dizziness when looking down from that eminence, especially if the individual be perched on the top of a vehicle or on the back of a horse. Such was the place which I was now about to cross, and in connexion with which my groom, in his kind con- sideration, had told me such tragic anecdotes to serve asa fearful warning. We entered upon the bridge on one side, just as the gentleman on horseback was entering upon it on the other. He was mounted on a superb chesnut steed, which for the first few moments riveted my attention: for I was ever an admirer of those noble animals which man has subjugated to his uses and trained to his purposes. But my eyes soon settled on the countenance of the rider ; and I could scarcely check an ejaculation of astonishment and hatred, when I at once recognised the countenance of Mr. Winter, the gay and dashing money-lender of Chester. This recognition was mutual and simultaneous; and Winter, in a half-familiar, half-courteous way, flourished his riding-whip to bestow a sportsman-like salutation. Whether it were on account of the whip passing thus suddenly before his horse’s eye—or whether the animal were seized with that species of dread of which my groom had just been speaking, I cannot say: but certain it is that the splendid | chesnut steed at once grew restive—shied, and swerved. Winter, with an oath, struck his spurs into its flanks, at the same time hitting it a smart cut over the shoulder, Ihave often noticed that the playfuiness or the viciousness of one horse will disturb the temper or excite the mettle of other horses that are near at the time; and so it was on this occasion: for mine instantaneously began to prance and show every inclination to display its antics. The groom was by my side in a moment; and his hand caught the bridle of my horse, he imploring me to sit fast. “Now then, steady! steady!” cried Winter to his own steed, which was shying and swerving again. “Ah! you will have it, will your?” he exclaimed, as the chesnut reared up; and he lashed the animal unmercifully with his whip. “ For God’s sake have a care, sir!” shouted my groom; “or there will be an accident.” “I never yet was beaten by a horse,” replied Winter, “and never will be!” At that very moment a sudden gust of wind blew off my riding-hat, the elastic strap yielding to the power of the gust; and it was carried right across the bridge, only a yard or two in front of the chesnut,—the blue veil fluttering as it rolled. An ejaculation of horror burst from the lips of the groom, instantaneously followed by a cry of mortal terror on the part of Winter: for the chesnut had reared completely up against the parapet—and the next moment its unhappy rider was thrown over. He caught the top of that stone parapet for an instant: I saw him cling to it as his lips sent forth the despairime, anguished words, “For God’s sake help me !” The groom, leaping from his horse, flew t Winter’s succour: the chesnut bounded away— and. whether it were that the saddle grazed against the wretched victim’s hands, or whether in the fearful horror of his position his brain grew dizzy as he hung over the frightful abyss, I cannot tel! —for my own brain was swimming swiftly round ; but certain it was that in an instant he disap. peared from my view. Appalling and rending to a degree—piercing, wild, and penetrating, were the shrieks and cries of agony which came up from that abyss for a few quick brief moments: and then all was still! I slid down from my horse: if I had not done s0 I should have fallen off—for I felt as if about to faint. Several minutes elapsed ere I could in any way collect my thoughts, or persuade myself that what had taken place was otherwise than a dream. At length I looked around. The chesnut was standing at the farther extremity of the bridge— the groom, with a countenance ghastly white and his looks expressing unutterable horror, was lean- ing against the parapet, his back towards it. The thought that now flashed to me was that the finger of Providence was to a certain degree visible in this accident: for there was a sort of retributive justice in the coincidence that the man who had so deeply, foully, and ruthlessly wronged me, should perish thus horribly before my very eyes. Still, profoundly as I had hated him—stupendous as was the injury I had experienced at his hands —and ready as I should have been to wreak a suitable vengeance upon him,—heaven knows that I would have asked not for him to die such a death as this. It was too horrible; and still did I feel sick at heart—still was there a swimming in my brain, for many, many minutes after it was all over. You see, ma’am,” said the groom, approaching , me, and speaking in a low, deep voice, “ the warn- ing I gave you was not so uncalled for after all; though thank God, the thing itself has not hap- pened to either one of us. You seemed to know that gentleman, ma’am P” “Yes,” I answered, scarcely able to give utter- ance to a syllable: “he is a gentleman of Chester —I had some slight knowledge of him—his name is Andrew Winter. But let us get away from this dreadful place.” Lhe groom took and led the two horses over the viaduct—and indeed several yards farther along the lane, so as to make sure that when we re- mounted we should be completely out of danger. “ Perhaps, ma'am,” he said, ‘‘ you would rather not ride any more this morning? TI can lead your horse home; and you can ask to sit down in one of these houses till I send the carriage U 2 Several of the inhabitants of the houses thus alluded to, had come forth on hearing the frightful cries sent up by the unfortunate man during the two or three moments of his fall; aud perhaps some of them had witnessed the dread spectacle from their windows. ‘Two or three ladies came out and pressed me to walk in and compose myself—an invitation which I was half inclined to accept; but fearful of being questioned as to my previous knowledge of the individual whose tragic end had just created such a sensation, I declined the proffered courtesy—mounted my horse, with the groom’s assistance—and rode away. For upwards of a week the incident of High- gate Archway left a most painful impression on my mind—so as almost completely to absorb the EE ie Sn jam NOOKS GOMIIGC (EO)